ELECTRICAL SAFETY STANDARDS

Transcription

1 ELECTRICAL SAFETY STANDARDS CONTENTS Contents Introduction Purpose Scope University performance standards Definitions Responsibilities Campus Infrastructure & Services (CIS) Deans, Directors, Head of Schools (or Equivalent) Supervisors Workers Managing electrical safety Electrical infrastructure Access to electrical switchboards Installed RCD protection Emergency stop buttons Inspection & testing of electrical equipment Visual inspection procedures Electrical testing and tagging procedures Imported electrical equipment Repair of electrical equipment Design and commissioning of electrical equipment Medical electrical equipment Working with electrical equipment...9 WHS_ELE_STD_1_Electrical Safety Standards Page 1 of 17

2 7.7.1 Location of electrical equipment Use of electrical leads Use of power boards Use of residual current devices (RCD) Electrical incidents Reporting electrical incidents Medical attention Make safe Review and evaluation References Document control Appendix A Identification of equipment requiring electrical testing and tagging (ETT) Appendix B Typical electrical equipment Appendix C Visual inspection checklist Appendix D Out-of-Service Tags Appendix E Electrical switchboard signage WHS_ELE_STD_1_Electrical Safety Standards Page 2 of 17

3 1 INTRODUCTION At the University we interact with electrical installations and use thousands of plug-in electrical devices every day. The majority of electrical installations and equipment has been designed to protect us from exposure to electricity. However, the use of damaged or faulty electrical equipment can pose significant electrical risks. The most common electrical risks are the potential for electric shock causing injury or death and fires resulting from electrical faults. 2 PURPOSE This document provides a framework for the management of electrical risks associated with University activities. The University performance standards and associated guidance detail a range of specific risk controls. These standards give effect to the Work Health & Safety Policy Compliance with these University performance standards and procedures assists the University to meet the specific legislative requirements of the NSW Work Health & Safety Act and Regulation SCOPE These performance standards and procedures apply to all University staff, students, affiliates and contractors, and all activities undertaken by and on behalf of the University. This document does not address the risks associated with electrical work carried out by electrical contractors. Refer to the CIS Contractor Induction Handbook for information regarding the requirements for electrical work. 4 UNIVERSITY PERFORMANCE STANDARDS 1. All electrical switchboards, including local distribution boards, are secured from unauthorized access 2. RCD protection will be provided at the distribution boards for all lighting and power circuits 3. All electrical work is authorised by Campus Infrastructure & Services (CIS) 4. Electrical faults are reported to CIS via the Campus Assist Helpdesk (or Campus Assist Online) 5. Electrical work is only carried out by licensed electricians 6. Plug-in electrical equipment is regularly visually inspected by the equipment users 7. Plug-in equipment that is likely to be damaged during normal use is identified and subject to electrical testing and tagging (ETT) 8. Plug-in equipment that fails a visual inspection or ETT is immediately disconnected from the electricity supply and removed from service 9. Faulty items that remain in the workplace are clearly tagged out of service 10. Repaired equipment is re-tested and tagged prior to re-introduction to service 11. The use of double adapters and piggy back plugs are prohibited 12. The use of power boards and extension cords is actively minimised 13. Medical electrical equipment that is intended to be connected to patients, research participants or students, must be maintained in accordance with AS/NZS 3551: Any manufacture or modification of electrical equipment is carried out by a competent person and subject to a design risk assessment and ETT prior to commissioning. WHS_ELE_STD_1_Electrical Safety Standards Page 3 of 17

4 5 DEFINITIONS competent person electrical installation A person who possesses the necessary practical and theoretical skills acquired through training, qualification, experience or a combination of these, to correctly undertake the tasks described in this guideline. A competent person is not required to be a registered or licensed electrical practitioner Infrastructure that supplies electricity to a building, including the main switchboards, distribution boards, metering, fixed wiring, socket outlets, and fixed electrical equipment. electrical work socket outlets PAT RCD Connecting electrical supply wiring to electrical equipment or disconnecting electrical supply wiring from electrical equipment. Installing, removing, adding, testing, replacing, repairing, altering or maintaining an electrical installation is also considered to be electrical work A fixed or suspended power outlet for connecting an equipment plug A portable appliance tester. An electronic instrument that automatically tests equipment plugged into it A residual current device. An electrical safety device designed to isolate and immediately switch off the supply of electricity when electricity is detected to be leaking to earth at harmful levels 6 RESPONSIBILITIES 6.1 CAMPUS INFRASTRUCTURE & SERVICES (CIS) Campus Infrastructure & Services (CIS) are responsible for: Safe design, construction, installation, monitoring and maintenance of the University s electricity infrastructure Security of electrical switchboards Installation and testing of fixed RCD protection Provision of Electrical Testing and Tagging (ETT) services Authorisation of all electrical work. 6.2 DEANS, DIRECTORS, HEAD OF SCHOOLS (OR EQUIVALENT) Deans, directors and heads of school (or equivalent) are responsible for ensuring that these electrical safety performance standards and the associated procedures are implemented within their area of control. This includes ensuring that electrical work is not arranged without prior authorization of CIS. 6.3 SUPERVISORS University supervisors are required to ensure that: Electrical faults are reported to CIS Staff, students and visitors do not attempt to access electrical switchboards Plug-in electrical equipment is regularly visually inspected for obvious faults WHS_ELE_STD_1_Electrical Safety Standards Page 4 of 17

5 Plug-in equipment that is likely to be damaged during normal use is identified and made available for testing by the CIS managed ETT contractor ETT contractor staff are provided with appropriate induction and supervision whilst working in their area of control Faulty electrical equipment is immediately removed from service Their area of control has sufficient socket outlets to minimise the use of power boards and extension leads Any manufacture or modification of electrical equipment for university use is carried out by a competent person and subject to design risk assessment and ETT prior to commissioning. 6.4 WORKERS Workers are required to: Report electrical faults to their supervisor Visually inspect electrical equipment, plugs, leads and socket outlets for obvious damage prior to use Use the correct electrical equipment for the specific task Immediately remove faulty (or suspect) items of electrical equipment from service. 7 MANAGING ELECTRICAL SAFETY 7.1 ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE ACCESS TO ELECTRICAL SWITCHBOARDS Access to University electrical switchboards and distribution boards is restricted to CIS approved electrical contractors and electrical engineers. Most circuits are protected by circuit breakers to prevent overloading. Reports of tripped circuit breakers and requests to reset tripped circuits or RCDs must be made to the Campus Assist Helpdesk Tripped circuit breakers, RCDs and other electrical devices must not be re-energised until the reason for their operation has been identified and the fault has been rectified INSTALLED RCD PROTECTION Serious injuries and fatalities can be prevented by the use of RCDs, commonly referred to as safety switches. RCDs are typically provided at the electrical distribution board for lighting and power circuits. In some situations, RCDs are installed at the socket outlet. The auditing of electrical distribution boards, the installation of new RCD protection, and the inspection and testing of existing RCDs is an ongoing maintenance process. This process is carried out by CIS appointed electrical contractors in accordance with AS/NZS 3760: EMERGENCY STOP BUTTONS Emergency stop buttons that isolate the electrical supply should be incorporated into the design of all new laboratories and workshops. The emergency stop buttons must be easily accessible and clearly labelled. WHS_ELE_STD_1_Electrical Safety Standards Page 5 of 17

6 7.2 INSPECTION & TESTING OF ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT Regular inspection and testing of plug-in electrical equipment assists in determining whether or not the equipment is electrically safe for use VISUAL INSPECTION PROCEDURES Supervisors must ensure that plug-in electrical equipment is regularly visually inspected for obvious faults. Regular visual inspections can identify obvious damage, wear or other conditions that may make the equipment unsafe. The majority of electrical defects are detectable by visual inspection Frequency of visual inspections New equipment must be visually inspected prior to first use Infrequently used equipment must be visual inspected prior to each use Regularly used equipment that is not subject to ETT must be visually inspected annually Visual inspection checklist The visual inspection process should include a check for: Obvious damage, defects, make-shift repairs or modifications Discolouration that may indicated exposure to excessive heat, moisture or chemicals Damage to flexible cords, e.g. confirm they are intact and flexible Effective anchoring of the flexible leads to the equipment and plugs Condition of the operating controls (e.g. buttons, switches, dials) - secure, aligned and labelled Missing external covers or guards Removal of old tags If a piece of equipment has been previously tested and tagged, but it has since been determined that it no longer requires regular ETT (refer to Section 7.2.2), the old tag must be removed Potentially unsafe equipment Potentially unsafe equipment must be immediately removed from service by one of the following methods: Cutting the plug off and disposing of the item in an appropriate waste stream Applying an out-of-service tag to the piece of equipment, pending further inspection, repair and testing ELECTRICAL TESTING AND TAGGING PROCEDURES Section 150 of the NSW Work Health & Safety Regulation 2011 requires that plug-in electrical equipment is regularly inspected and tested by a competent person if the equipment is subject to operating conditions that are likely to cause damage to the equipment. WHS_ELE_STD_1_Electrical Safety Standards Page 6 of 17

7 CIS provide an ETT service via a contractor that moves from building to building using a PAT to test and tag plug-in electrical equipment that meets this description Identifying equipment for electrical testing & tagging (ETT) It is the responsibility of the local supervisor to identify equipment for testing. The decision tree in Appendix A and the examples in Appendix B have been provided to assist with the identification of plug-in electrical equipment that requires ETT. Priority is given to equipment that fits one or more of the general or environmental risk factors listed below. General risk factors Hand held moved during use Portable frequently moved from one location to another Supply cord is subject to abuse Supply cord is subject to frequent flexing Environmental risk factors Exposure to: Moisture used in a wet area, outdoor use or storage Dust used in a dusty environment Heat - positioned adjacent to a heat source Corrosive environment Vibration Mechanical damage impact Tagging of tested equipment A durable, water resistant and self-adhesive tag will be applied to all electrical equipment that successfully passes a PAT test. The tag will note the following information: Name of the person and company that carried out the test Date of the testing Outcome of the testing Date on which the next testing must be carried out Tagging Out Faulty Electrical Equipment Electrical equipment that fails a PAT test will be immediately removed from service by one of the following methods: Cutting the plug off and disposing of the item in an appropriate waste stream Applying an Out-of-Service tag to the piece of equipment, pending further inspection, repair and testing. Common low cost electrical items, e.g. power boards and power leads will immediately be disposed of, while more expensive or specialist equipment may warrant repair. These decisions will require consultation with the supervisor of the area. If it is unclear how best to proceed, the ETT Service will apply an Out-of-Service tag. WHS_ELE_STD_1_Electrical Safety Standards Page 7 of 17

8 Frequency of testing ETT services will be provided annually. A small number of areas including some mechanical workshops will be provided with ETT services once every six months New equipment Where new equipment is introduced to the workplace, the supplier is responsible for providing a safe product and therefore electrical testing and tagging is generally not required. The equipment should be visually inspected prior to first use Repaired equipment Equipment that has been repaired or serviced must be tested and tagged by the repairer prior to being reintroduced to service Second hand equipment Where second hand electrical equipment is introduced to the workplace, the equipment must be tested and tagged prior to first use. This can be arranged through a service request on Campus Assist Online Personal electrical equipment Personal electrical equipment that is genuinely used for University business will be tested, following approval of the supervisor. Personal electrical equipment not used or required for University business will not be tested and the relevant staff will be asked to remove the equipment from the workplace. Common personal items including mobile phone chargers will not be tested. These items must be regularly visually inspected by the owner and removed from the University if there is any sign of damage or fault. Personal electrical equipment used in student accommodation will not be subject to ETT processes. However, students may be asked by a senior resident or other University representative to dispose of or remove faulty or damaged equipment Electrical equipment not able to be tested with a PAT Electrical equipment requiring testing that is not able to be tested with a PAT (e.g. three phase equipment) must be tested and tagged by a licensed electrician in accordance with AS/NZS 3760: Record keeping Records will be captured during the testing process by the ETT contractors engaged to complete the testing. The records will be maintained in three ways: 1. Tag applied to the equipment following the testing 2. University database of all equipment tested (maintained by CIS) 3. Equipment owners will be provided with a copy of the database output for their delegated area of responsibility so they can maintain records of repair and disposal. WHS_ELE_STD_1_Electrical Safety Standards Page 8 of 17

9 7.3 IMPORTED ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT Imported electrical items may not meet Australian safety standards and can pose a serious safety risk. Australian product safety laws include specific requirements for electrical products. If imported directly, e.g. purchasing overseas products over the internet, electrical items must be certified as compliant with Australian safety standards, as determined by the electrical safety regulator, NSW Fair Trading. 7.4 REPAIR OF ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT Electrical equipment must be repaired by a competent person and subject to ETT prior to being reintroduced to service (Ref. Section ). 7.5 DESIGN AND COMMISSIONING OF ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT Prior to commissioning, all in-house designed, manufactured or modified electrical equipment that uses or generates voltages above extra low voltage ( >50 Vac or >120 Vdc) must undergo a design risk assessment process undertaken by competent persons in accordance with the requirements of AS/NZS 3100: MEDICAL ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT AS/NZS 3760:2010 specifically excludes medical devices and electrical devices in patient care areas. Medical electrical equipment intended to be connected to patients, research participants or students must be designed and certified to meet the requirements of AS/NZS 3200 and maintained in accordance with AS/NZS 3551:2012. The inspection, testing and maintenance of medical electrical equipment are the responsibility of the faculty, school or research institute that owns the equipment. 7.7 WORKING WITH ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT LOCATION OF ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT Electrical equipment can be a source of ignition and must be separated from potentially flammable or explosive environments. For further information refer to AS/NZS :2005 Electrical equipment for explosive gas atmospheres Selection, installation, and maintenance. Fume Cupboard socket outlets must only be used for electrical equipment used within the fume cupboard. Electrical equipment must be separated from wet areas. Consider using battery or air powered equipment when working in damp environments USE OF ELECTRICAL LEADS Extension leads must be compliant with AS/NZS 3199 Approval and Test Specification for Cord Extension Sets. When in use, extension leads must be: Selected so that the shortest practical lead is used for the task Fully extended WHS_ELE_STD_1_Electrical Safety Standards Page 9 of 17

10 Connected to the nearest socket outlet and removed from the socket outlet immediately when not in use Protected from mechanical damage NOT placed where they could be a trip hazard (e.g. across aisles, corridors or other trafficable areas) USE OF POWER BOARDS Power boards used at the University must comply with AS/NZS 3105 Approval and Test Specification for Electrical Portable Outlet Devices. Power boards at the University must have the following design features: Current overload protection Reset button Individual switches on the power board (for power boards with a lead longer than 1.8m). Power boards are designed for temporary use only. In office environments power boards must be located in an area which does not cause damage to the board or create a trip hazard. In all other locations they must be securely mounted clear of the work-bench or floor. The use of power boards in laboratories is discouraged and should be prohibited in new laboratories where sufficient socket outlets have been provided Insufficient socket outlets Power boards are designed for temporary use in situations where additional power plugs are required. In situations where additional socket outlets are required on an ongoing basis a request for the installation of additional socket outlets should be made via Campus Assist Online Prohibitions Power boards must not be piggy backed, e.g. a power board cannot be plugged into another power board. This can result in extreme fire risk. Double adaptors and piggy-back plugs are prohibited for use in the University. These are not to be used under any circumstances USE OF RESIDUAL CURRENT DEVICES (RCD) Serious injuries and fatalities can be prevented by the use of RCDs, commonly referred to as safety switches. RCDs are typically provided at the electrical distribution board for lighting and power circuits, but are not currently installed in all areas. The use of portable RCDs is recommended in higher risk work environments where installed RCD protection is not currently available. The purchase and regular testing of portable RCDs are the responsibility of the organisational unit responsible for the area and/or activities. Correct selection of the type of earth leakage protection is also important to avoid an unacceptable level of circuit tripping by the devices. The minimum requirement for an RCD is a tripping current which does not exceed 30 milliamps with a tripping time less than 200 milliseconds when electricity is supplied through a socket outlet not exceeding 20 amps. An RCD is a valuable safety device, never bypass it. If the RCD trips it is a sign there is a fault. The users should contact CIS to arrange an electrical contractor to investigate and rectify the problem. WHS_ELE_STD_1_Electrical Safety Standards Page 10 of 17

11 Note - RCDs do not provide protection in all circumstances. For example, an RCD will not trigger if a person contacts both active and neutral conductors while handling faulty plugs or electrical equipment and electricity flows through the person s body, unless there is a current flow to earth. 7.8 ELECTRICAL INCIDENTS REPORTING ELECTRICAL INCIDENTS Any incident or injury involving electricity must be immediately reported to the local supervisor and Safety Health & Wellbeing. As soon as reasonably possible a formal incident report must be entered via RiskWare. All electrical incidents are reportable to WorkCover NSW. Safety Health & Wellbeing manage the notification process MEDICAL ATTENTION It is important that any person who has suffered an electric shock, no matter how minor, seeks medical attention as soon as possible after the event. Contact with electricity can have serious health effects that may be delayed MAKE SAFE CIS will be contacted and requested to send an electrical contractor to inspect the electrical installation and/or the socket outlet and equipment involved in the incident. Equipment involved in an electrical incident will be removed from service pending further inspection and testing. 8 REVIEW AND EVALUATION These performance standards and the associated procedures and guidelines will be reviewed by Safety Health & Wellbeing at least once every two years to identify and implement opportunities for improvement. 9 REFERENCES NSW Work Health and Safety Act 2011 NSW Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 WorkCover Code of Practice Managing Electrical Risks in the Workplace, 2015 AS/NZS 3000:2007 Electrical installations (known as the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules) AS/NZS 3760:2010 In-service safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment AS/NZS 5762:2011 In-service safety inspection and testing Repaired electrical equipment AS/NZS 3199:2007 Approval and Test Specification - Cord Extension Sets AS/NZS 3105:2012 Approval And Test Specification - Electrical Portable Outlet Devices AS/NZS 3551:2012 Management Programs for Medical Equipment AS/NZS 3100:2009 Approval and test specification General requirements for electrical equipment AS/NZS :1998 Medical electrical equipment General requirements for safety AS/NZS Approval and test specification Medical electrical equipment WHS_ELE_STD_1_Electrical Safety Standards Page 11 of 17

12 10 DOCUMENT CONTROL Acknowledgements Related Documents University of Sydney Work Health & Safety Policy 2016 University of Sydney Work Health & Safety Procedures 2016 Version Control Date released Author/s Custodian Approved by Amendment /08/2014 Steven Marker Matthew Mitchell Manager, WHS Services Director, Safety Health & Wellbeing Original /12/2016 Steven Marker Matthew Mitchell Manager, WHS Services Director, Safety Health & Wellbeing Updated links and references Printed copies of this document are uncontrolled. Verify version before using. WHS_ELE_STD_1_Electrical Safety Standards Page 12 of 17

13 APPENDIX A IDENTIFICATION OF EQUIPMENT REQUIRING ELECTRICAL TESTING AND TAGGING (ETT) WHS_ELE_STD_1_Electrical Safety Standards Page 13 of 17

14 APPENDIX B TYPICAL ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT Work Environment Kitchens Workshops Laboratories Teaching spaces Offices Equipment used Outdoors Student Accommodation Does require regular testing and tagging Toasters/sandwich machines Kettles Coffee machines/grinders Plug-in hot water heaters Microwave ovens Hand held power tools e.g. drill, angle grinder Bench grinders Electric welding equipment Extension cords Power boards Plug-in 3-phase plant/machinery Portable RCDs Hot plates Stirrers Heat guns Heating mantles Microscopes ph meters Electric thermometers Rotary evaporators Power boards Power leads Portable projectors Overhead projectors/visualisers Portable power leads Portable power boards Portable projectors Electronic whiteboards Electric heaters Vacuum pumps Bench top centrifuges Balances Steam/water/oil baths Ultrasonic baths Oscillators Microwave ovens Portable power sources for low voltage or direct current devices, e.g. electrophoresis baths Power leads Power boards Laptop computers Monitoring equipment High pressure water cleaners Portable lighting Electrical gardening equipment Portable RCDs All university owned plug-in electrical equipment. Plug-in kitchen appliances Does not require testing and tagging Refrigerators Stationary equipment that is separated from wet areas and areas where corrosive chemicals are used. For example: Refrigerators Freezers Biosafety cabinets Incubators Desktop computers Free standing centrifuges Equipment that is fixed in place and cannot be moved or unplugged by the users. Laptop computers Desktop computers Printers Copiers In-situ task lighting Phone chargers Laptop docking stations Personal electrical items WHS_ELE_STD_1_Electrical Safety Standards Page 14 of 17

15 APPENDIX C VISUAL INSPECTION CHECKLIST No obvious damage or defects to equipment including discolouration that may indicate exposure to heat, moisture or chemicals. * Dust build up on power boards is a particularly common issue. Outer sheaths of supply cords aren t damaged. Test cords by flexing to confirm that they re not brittle* *If leads are in contact with absorbent materials, the plasticiser in the lead may be 'leached out' over time, making the P.V.C. coating hard and brittle and prone to splitting. Power boards in the area aren t overloaded, i.e. piggy backed from one board onto another. This can result in extreme fire risk. No evidence of exposed wires at plugs - the outer sheath must cover the inner wires right into the plug. No signs of overheating, e.g. burn marks or distortion on leads, power boards or equipment. WHS_ELE_STD_1_Electrical Safety Standards Page 15 of 17

16 APPENDIX D OUT-OF-SERVICE TAGS WHS_ELE_STD_1_Electrical Safety Standards Page 16 of 17

17 APPENDIX E ELECTRICAL SWITCHBOARD SIGNAGE WHS_ELE_STD_1_Electrical Safety Standards Page 17 of 17